Keeping Quiet

 Situations which create stress or anxiety trigger our fight or flight reaction. Nothing new there. What many people do not realise is that the fight or flight reaction causes a number of hormones to be released into the body including Cortisol. The purpose of cortisol is to help us survive a life threatening situation and its impact on our body is to reduce unnecessary body functions until danger passes. This includes raising our blood pressure but reducing blood flow to our extremities including our hands, feet and head so we bleed less if we are injured. Body functions such as digestion, growing hair and our nails are put on hold as is our immune system.

The reaction to Cortisol and the reduced flow to the brain means that we do not make our best decisions or think clearly when stressed.  Just ask somebody who is highly stressed to recite the alphabet backwards if you have any doubt.   The slowing down of our immune system  is more serious long term. implications. Research is indicating that this may be one of the main reasons for the increase in cancers, diabetes, heart disease and other "Western " diseases.

We have been told that we need to do yoga, tai chi, meditate or simply go for a walk. That is not simplistic, patronizing advice.  The reason why it works is simple to understand but not as simple to do, if we are stressed.  The key to why these activities work is that they all cause us to slow down our breathing.  This is a key to turning the body stress reaction off. The brain is programmed to believe that if we are breathing slowly and with full breaths then we cannot be in danger. There is no life threatening situation.  Anxiety is simply the imagination creating a life threatening situation and the body reacting to it.  Same physical reaction to a stress, real or imagined.

The poem Keeping Quiet by Pablo Neruda is a simple invitation to stop. To introduce a pause into our lives so we can re-charge and take stock.  If the cortisol stops we think more clearly. Now you know why you often find a solution to a problem after even a short walk or stopping for a cup of tea or coffee. 

So when it all feels a bit much, take a few minutes to Keep Quiet and let the body heal.

If your anxiety feels as if it is swamping you, talk to a professional. They can give you tools which will help, regardless of your age or situation.

So now you count up to twelve and I will go.

Ian